Lead Engineer — Separator

• EnerVenue is seeking a technically strong Lead Engineer — Separator to own separator material selection, qualification, and manufacturing integration for its nickel hydroxide cathode / nickel-alloy anode Aqueous Metal Cell (AMC) platform. This is a hands-on technical leadership role at the heart of cell performance, safety, and lifetime — the separator directly governs ionic conductivity, gas crossover, and short-circuit resistance across a 30,000+ cycle design life.
• The successful candidate will own the separator technical roadmap end-to-end — from material and supplier selection, through wet-out and conductivity optimization, to converting and in-line quality control at the Changzhou facility — working closely with the Head of Electrode Engineering and the Cell Engineering team. This role sits at the intersection of polymer/membrane science, electrochemistry, and manufacturing, and requires someone equally comfortable in a lab characterizing membranes and on a factory floor debugging a slitting or coating line.

What you'll do

Separator Engineering & Qualification

•     Lead selection, qualification, and continuous improvement of separator materials (nonwoven polyolefin, cellulosic, or ceramic-coated membranes) for EnerVenue's AMC platform

•     Define and control separator specifications: thickness, porosity, pore-size distribution, MacMullin number, ionic (area-specific) resistance, and electrolyte wettability

•     Optimize separator performance for alkaline electrolyte compatibility, including oxidative and dendrite resistance, gas (H₂/O₂) barrier properties, and long-term chemical stability

•     Drive separator contribution to cell-level performance targets: cycle life, rate capability, self-discharge, and internal short-circuit resistance, targeting 30,000+ cycles

•     Establish separator characterization protocols: MacMullin number, Gurley air permeability, puncture strength, thermal shrinkage, wettability/contact angle, and SEM/porosimetry

•     Own separator-related failure analysis (shorts, dry-out, dendrite penetration) and drive corrective actions with R&D and quality teams

Manufacturing & Supplier Integration (Changzhou, China)

•     Support commissioning of separator converting operations at the Changzhou facility — slitting, winding, and inline inspection — from spec to production-qualified output

•     Qualify and manage relationships with domestic Chinese separator suppliers and, where applicable, coating/converting equipment vendors

•     Establish incoming-material inspection, SPC, and inline quality monitoring for separator stock used in cell assembly

•     Work with Manufacturing Engineering to resolve separator-related yield issues during cell assembly ramp (alignment, wet-out time, handling damage)

•     Ensure separator sourcing and handling processes meet relevant environmental, health, and safety standards under China's GB and MEP regulations

Technical Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

•     Serve as the internal technical authority on separator materials and membrane science for the AMC platform

•     Partner closely with the Head of Electrode Engineering and Cell Engineering team to co-optimize electrode, separator, and electrolyte design as an integrated system

•     Collaborate with the Stanford-based R&D team to translate lab-scale separator research into manufacturable, qualified production materials

•     Mentor and, as the team scales, help build out a small separator engineering team in Changzhou

•     Report to the Head of Electrode Engineering; provide regular updates on separator roadmap, qualification status, and supply risk

Qualifications

Education

•     Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field

•     Equivalent industry experience (4+ years) with a strong portfolio of separator or membrane product development will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree

Core Technical Experience (Non-Negotiable)

•     Hands-on experience developing, qualifying, or manufacturing battery separators (alkaline, NiMH, lead-acid, or lithium-ion nonwoven/microporous membranes)

•     Working knowledge of separator characterization: MacMullin number, ionic resistance, Gurley permeability, puncture strength, wettability, and thermal shrinkage

•     Understanding of polymer/nonwoven membrane structure-property relationships as they relate to porosity, pore morphology, and electrolyte transport

•     Experience with alkaline-electrolyte-compatible materials and oxidative/chemical stability considerations

•     Track record of taking a separator or membrane material from lab-scale qualification to high-volume manufacturing

Manufacturing & Operations Experience

•     Experience supporting or commissioning separator converting operations (slitting, winding, coating) in an industrial setting

•     Familiarity with Chinese manufacturing supply chains and separator/nonwoven material vendors

•     Understanding of EHS compliance relevant to separator handling and processing under Chinese regulations

•     Experience working cross-functionally with electrode and cell assembly engineering teams

Language & Location

•     Professional working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese required (technical documents, supplier negotiations, team coordination)

•     Professional proficiency in English required (communication with Silicon Valley HQ, technical reporting)

•     Based in or willing to relocate to Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China

Preferred Qualifications

•     Direct experience with nickel-hydrogen or NiMH battery separator systems

•     Publications or patents in separator/membrane materials, alkaline electrochemistry, or nonwoven engineering

•     Experience with ceramic-coated or composite separator technologies

•     Familiarity with water electrolysis (alkaline or PEM) membrane/separator technology

•     Experience with DoE (design of experiments) methodologies for membrane/material optimization

•     Network within the Chinese separator or nonwoven materials supply chain